*NRHM doc terminated, BMO suspended for
dereliction of duty
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 22: Ten persons including two real brothers were killed and one sustained severe injuries when a Scorpio vehicle skidded off the snow covered road and rolled down into deep gorge in Warwan area of the Kishtwar district late last night. However, the dead bodies could not be shifted to the respective destinations even more than 24 hours after the tragic accident because of the inclement weather conditions.
In the meanwhile, Kishtwar district administration terminated the services of a doctor posted in the Primary Health Centre at Afti in Warwan belt as he was absent from the duty when the accident victims were rushed to the health centre which resulted into death of two injured persons. Even the concerned Block Medical Officer has also been placed under suspension for his failure to check dereliction of duty.
Reports from Warwan, a remotest corner of the Kishtwar district, said that a Scorpio carrying two Contractors (real brothers) and nine other persons including driver skidded off the road at Pragrin between Afti and Margi villages and rolled down into 200 feet deep gorge at around 10 pm yesterday. Some locals spotted the accident and immediately informed Inshan Police Station.
Police with the assistance of locals and Army personnel launched rescue operation but it took them several hours to reach the badly damaged vehicle, bring out its occupants from the gorge and shift them to the Primary Health Centre Afti.
There are conflicting reports about the number of persons died on the spot. District administration said that nine persons died on the spot and one succumbed to injuries in the Primary Health Centre while as locals alleged that three persons succumbed to injuries in the PHC due to the absence of a doctor engaged under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). These people, according to some reports, also staged protest demonstration against the absence of the doctor from the PHC when the injured were brought there.
According to the reports, the contractors were taking back the labourers engaged for carrying out work under Prime Minister Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Warwan area when vehicle met with the tragic accident. In the morning, the district administration made request to the Army authorities for pressing MI-17 aircraft into service for shifting the dead bodies to Kishtwar or Anantnag for further transportation to the respective destinations. However, the bodies remained at PHC Afti as aircraft could not be pressed into service in view of the inclement weather conditions.
The condition of lone survivor namely Farooq Ahmed, son of Abdul Ahad of Warwan was stated to be out of danger when reports last came in.
Keeping in view the protest demonstration over non-availability of doctor in the PHC, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Baseer Khan this afternoon ordered termination of services of Dr Bilal Ahmed, who was engaged for the PHC under the NRHM scheme, and suspension of concerned BMO Dr Mehboob Khan for his failure to ensure punctuality in the PHC, which falls under his jurisdiction.
In order to ensure proper services in the PHC Afti, the Health Department has deputed Dr Arshad and some other staff from Marwah.
The deceased have been identified as Mohd Latief and Mushtaq Ahmad, sons of Mohd Subhan of Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, Rayaz Ahmad, son of Ghulam Hussain of Sirkando Warwan, Tanveer Ahmad, son of Ghulam Rasool of Dasbal Warwan, Shabir Ahmad of Drangdoroo Dachhan, Mangal Singh of Himachal, Mudasir Ahmad, son of Ali Mohd of Kokernag, Ashiq Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohd Mir of Qazigund, Shah Jahan, son of Bashir Ahmad of Kokernag and Muzafar Ahmad, son of Gh Rasool of Marwah.
It is pertinent to mention here that Warwan area of Kishtwar district doesn’t have any road connectivity and people residing in this belt are reaching the district headquarters by covering the distance either by foot or in vehicles via Anantnag after crossing Simthantop area.
Follow our WhatsApp channel